Wayne’s World

Wayne Pomanowski so enjoyed the reception he received with his first video here on MMM that he asked if he could do a Monmouth GOP Affilated News Video twice a week.

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Message Testing and Push Polls

More Proof that Pallone and Holt Are Worried

By Art Gallagher

MMM has received reports from readers in both CD-6 and CD-12 that they were polled by the Pallone and Holt campaigns this weekend.

Not surprisingly, Pallone plans to divert voters attention away from the economy and the health care bill that he was so proud of just a year ago.

Pallone is preparing negative ads depicting Anna Little as a career politician and right wing extremists.  He will attempt to make the election campaign about guns, including bullet proof vest piercing armour, stem cell research, abortion, and oil drilling.  He will depict Little as a tax raising mayor who would raise taxes on the middle class.

Holt is planning to stick with the economy, which he will blame entirely on Scott Sipprelle.   At least they’re not blaming Bush any longer.

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Scott’s “Trail Mix” for September 13th

What a fabulous week for Team Sipprelle, highlighted by our 9/11 “Rally for America” at Thompson Park in Monroe Township. For my generation, September 11^th represents that lump in the throat, that feeling deep in the gut that pains us with the reminder of life’s fragility. We will never forget!

A Fundraiser

On September 24^th, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will join me at a cocktail reception fundraiser in Rumson to support our campaign. While we have been primarily focused on our voter outreach and engagement over the summer months, we also need to replenish our coffers in order to fully counteract the negative media attack that Mr. Holt and his cronies of the status quo have launched against our campaign. Please help us by attending this event. You can get details for the event and RSVP by emailing:

[email protected] or by calling (609) 902-2038.

I Reject Mr. Holt’s Politics of Division

My opponent has claimed that I cannot represent the middle class, even though I am a product of the middle class. Mr. Holt says I cannot be sensitive to the needs of the unemployed, even though I have spent my entire professional life working to create jobs and expand economic opportunity. Mr. Holt says I do not understand the American Dream, even though I am an embodiment of the American Dream. What Mr. Holt says is taken directly from the tattered playbook of professional politicians. Sully your opponent at any cost. Try to divide Americans by economic status, gender, age, and race. I categorically reject this un-American approach. We are better than that.

An Endorsement from Hillary Clinton

I am pleased by Hillary’s endorsement last week. That is, her endorsement of the point I have been stressing for nine months. Namely, that America’s crippling debt burden is a national security threat because it impairs our ability to act freely to protect our interests at the same time it emboldens mischief-making or worse by our adversaries.

Disappearing Lawn Signs

As that sea of red starts to blanket central New Jersey, we are receiving reports of disappearing lawn signs. Don’t worry, we will replenish them. Just remember this: stolen or vandalized lawn signs are an indication of strength. Sort of like when your opponent launches personal smears at you from the comfort of a TV studio.

Can you beat 2700?

At our Tuesday phone bank last week, a group of fired-up volunteers (of which I was a bit player) made over 2700 phone calls in a single session, including 278 calls by one formerly reluctant phone-caller! Volunteers who commit at least 10 hours to the campaign effort between now and November 2nd will be inducted into the Team Sipprelle Hall of Fame for special recognition. Come down and inscribe your name into the ledger of the election that changes America.

Thank you for your continued passion and purpose.

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Six Flag’s “Last Word” on Muslim Day

By Art Gallagher

Jennifer Lawton of Six Flags issued the following statement in response to MMM’s follow up questions regarding last Friday’s Muslim Day at Great Adventure:

“The day was a private event with tickets available by the organizers the day of for those guests who wished to enjoy the event.  For more information regarding the event and the day of ticket sales, please contact the ICNA of NJ.”

Grace reports that she spoke with a Six Flags staff member who told her that she could buy a ticket for entry “but might not be allowed into”  the park, and a representative of ICNA who told her she wouldn’t be admitted to the park because her sleeves were too short.  Grace did not see who was actually selling the tickets, a Six Flags staff member or a ICNA member.

ICNANJ was selling tickets in advance through there web site and through Muslim vendors throughout NJ, PA, NY and Del.

Online ticket sales apparently closed on Thursday, the day before the event, and an announcement was placed on ICNA NJ’s site that tickets would be available at the gate.

It seems to me that Six Flags and ICNA did almost everything right.  The exception being how the communicated about the event on the day of.  Six Flags staff members telling people who were clearly not invited to the private event that they could pay to park or buy a ticket, but that they might not be admitted was clearly the source of the confusion and upset.   Clear communication that the park was closed for a private event, including signage at the entrance to the parking area and to the park itself  would have made the difference.  I bet they do that next year.

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Valentin’s Status Reveals Christie’s Law Enforcement Strategy

By Art Gallagher

The Star Ledger’s Auditor  reports that Governor Chris Christie will not reappoint Luis Valentin as Monmouth County Prosecutor, nor will Christie promote Valentin to Essex County Prosecutor.   The Auditor says that Valentin is out in Monmouth because he doesn’t have political chits with Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno or Senator Joe Kyrillos.  If Valentin was “Christie’s guy” he would not have left the U.S Attorney’s office to take the Monmouth job in 2005.

Monmouth County Democrats were not happy when then Governor Richard Cody appointed Valentin in July of 2005.  Democratic Chairman Vic Scudiery even tried to impose upon Republican Senator Joe Palaia (now retired) to invoke senatorial courtesy to block the appointment in favor of an attorney from the local party faithful.

Similarly, Christie is not likely to appoint prosecutors from the ranks of the Republican party faithful.  Rather, Chrisite will restructure the manner in which county prosecutors offices operate and then fill the positions with his own people. Veterans of Christie’s U.S. Attorneys Office will be heavily favored.

Valentin, whose term expired in July, will probably serve as a holdover until December or January.  Christie’s first choice for the Monmouth job, a veteran of the U.S. Attorney’s office, is not a member of the NJ bar, according to sources close to the selection process.   Current law requires prosecutors to be a member of the NJ bar and to have practiced in NJ courts for at least 5 years.   The commission that Christie appointed to recommend changes to the operation of prosecutors offices is due to issue its report by December 15.  The commission report will probably recommend changes to the statutory qualifications of prosecutors.  Also, the results of the most recent NJ bar exam will be announced in December.

Christie’s successor in the U.S. Attorneys Office, Paul Fishman, announced that public corruption will not be a priority during his tenure.  Fishman’s soft stance on corruption makes it all the more important that Christie put his stamp on NJ’s law enforcement apparatus as he works for reform of government on all levels throughout the state.

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Rush Holt’s Disturbing Duality

By C. L. Nelson, Middletown

Rush Holt is a political partisan in its most extreme form. He consistently supports disturbing political interests that diverge from the general interest of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. Rush Holt is an opportunistic political creature. He has exhibited a curious display of colors that are well adapted to the environment where he prowls. If you closely follow Rush Holt’s voting record, you will see a trail of misguided adventures led by the most radical Democrat’s in Congress. The voters in district 12 must send Rush Holt home in November. We do not need a representative that serves interests other than ours. It is time to exert our rightful influence as citizens and cast aside the career politician obstructing our general will. Mr. Holt’s voting record does not accurately represent his public pronouncements. Although this exercise represents a small sample of a larger, and more disturbing, voting record, it does reflect upon the nature of our representative, and his troublesome actions.

If Rush Holt is a strong proponent of education, and a worthy advocate for teachers, then why did he vote against those interests on several occasions, especially when he was in the minority? A closer look at Mr. Holt’s dismal voting record clearly reflects that he has acted, and will continue to act, as a partisan Democrat, aligned against our collective welfare. The votes he makes for us have been turned over to the reckless will of a radical element nestled in the hierarchy of the Democrat Party.

Why did Rush Holt vote against H.R. 1141 (106th) 1999-2000, which provided $56 million for educating the disadvantaged?  Why did our congressman vote against H.R. 3090 (107th) 2001-2002, which enabled teachers a tax deduction on income for school supplies paid for out of their own pockets, and also voting against extending this teacher tax deduction in H.R. 1308 (108th) 2003-2004, the very next congressional session? Why did Rush Holt vote against providing $5 million “for national service scholarships for high school students performing community service” in H.R. 2684 (106th) 1999-2000?

Why did our representative vote against H.R. 3010 (109th) 2005-2006, which provided $6.8 billion “for making payments under Head Start Act[,]” $100 million “for competitive grants to local educational agencies, including charter schools…to develop and implement performance-based teacher and principle compensation systems in high-need schools[,]” and $1.5 million “to provide information on diagnosis, intervention, and teaching strategies for children with disabilities?” This is not the voting record of a consistent advocate for education and teachers.  It is the grim reflection of a partisan extremist.

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Summer of Recovery?

By Thomas Stokes, Middletown

In this political year, voters and taxpayers are bombarded on all sides with what is, frankly, political propaganda. Politicians have been touting the “Summer of Recovery” trying to put a positive spin on our current economy. Well, summer is now over.

Time for some facts from the the national Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://bls.gov/).

In 2006, there were 6.9 million unemployed, with an unemployed rate of 4.6%. Payroll employment had an average growth rate of more than 149,000 per month.

As of today, there are currently 14.9 million unemployed with a 9.6% unemployment rate.  In June, 2010, payroll employment dropped 175,000, in July, 2010, payroll employment dropped an additional 54,000.

In November, 2006, the Democrats took control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate (while Bush was still President). It should be pointed out that only the Congress, not the President, passes legislation to spend and tax. For the past four years, Congress has been 100% controlled by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and their fellow Democrats.

In November, 2008, the Democrats took control of the White House and have completely controlled our national government since.

Who has been hurt by this? Besides every family being impacted by this dreadful economy, teenagers have been hit with a 26.3% unemployment rate. Black Americans have a 16.3% unemployment rate and Hispanic Americans have a 12.0% unemployment rate. On 9/11/2010 the headline read “US Poverty on track to post record gain” due to the current economic conditions.

Another interesting fact – according to IRS data, taxpayers aged 55 and older account for 71% of the dividends earned in this country. On January 1, 2011, taxpayers, especially Senior Citizens living on a fixed income, will face a devastating increase in the dividend tax rate – going from 15% to as high as 39.6%!

On January 1, 2011, since the Democrat controlled Congress has up to now, refused to extend the 2001 and 2003 Republican tax cuts, all American taxpayers face the largest tax hike in our history! It makes absolutely no sense, in the midst of the current economic recession, to raise taxes on anyone, especially those who create private sector jobs – the small business sector.

All the spending and borrowing by this Congress has achieved nothing but massive debt for our children and grandchildren. With no results to show, Congress and the President propose even more spending (and borrowing) in “Stimulus II”. I believe it was Albert Einstein who said, “the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result!”. Considering this, perhaps most members of Congress need a long rest.

The question is simple, not just for senior citizens, but for every American taxpayer. As we enter a national election season for control of the Congress, just ask yourself. Are you and your family better off today than four years ago (in 2006), when the Democrats took control?

The honest answer to that should determine how you cast your ballot on November 2^nd.

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Congressman Frank Pallone’s Tyranny

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